Gymnastic apparatus



(No Model.)

W. HEESEL ER.

GYMNASTIG APPARATUS. v No. 254,215. Patented Feb. 28,1882.

WITNES$ES I INVENTOR ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFF CE WILLIAM HE'ESELER, onHoBoKEN, NEW JERSEY.

GYM NASTIC APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 254,215, dated February 28, 1882.

' Application filed Jnly30,1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM HEESELER, of Hoboken, in the county of Hudson and State .of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gymnastic -Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

The horizontal bars employed in gymnastic apparatus were heretofore made either of wood or steel, the former having the disadvantage that they were liable to breakage when in use, and also that they exposed, by too great smoothness and slipperiness, those exercising thereon to accidents. The steel bars had the disadvanta ge of being too rigid and too smooth, so as to give too little hold for the hands, also of being liable to corrosion by the influence of the perspiration of the hands.

These objections my invention is designed to obviate; and it consists of a horizontal bar composed of a square steel core, and of an exterior shell or covering of closely-arranged disks of paper or other moisture-absorbing material, which are retained by square end blocks and screw-nuts on the threaded ends of the steel core.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a sectional side elevation of my improved horizontal bar and its supporting-posts; and Figs. 2, 3, and 4 are respectively a vertical transverse section on line w at, Fig. 1, a sectional side elevation, and an end view of the horizontal bar on an enlarged scale.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

A in the drawings represents the square steel core of my improved horizontal bar for gymnastic apparatus, which bar is preferably made of aboutthree-quarters of an inch in thickness, and provided with screw-threaded ends a.

Upon the bar A is placed a covering or shell, B, which is composed of a number of disks of paper, linen, leather, rubber, or other suitable material, having square center openings, so as to fit on the steel core and be readily strung up upon the same sidewise of and closely to each other.

If desired, the shell or covering B may be made of one continuous piece of rubber or other elastic material, which is formed around the steel core.

The disks of the covering B are retained in position by metallic end blocks, 0, which fit on,the core A, and are of square exterior crosssection, so as to fit securely into corresponding recesses of the supporting-posts of the 7 bar. The square end blocks,O,keep the disks of the shell or covering B tightly compressed, so that they form one smooth and continuous body. The end blocks, 0, are retained in position by screw-nuts E, which are applied to the threaded ends of the steel core A.

A horizontal bar which is thus constructed is capable of resisting the strain exerted thereon, owing to its steel core, which, however, has resiliency and elasticity enough to assist in the gymnastic exercises performed thereon. The shell or covering absorbs the perspiration and prevents the bar from becoming too smooth and slippery, giving thereby always the required hold for the hands. When the shell is worn or soiled it can be convenieutl y replaced by anew covering, and thus the bar be made like new, so that, though its first cost'is higher, it is really cheaper and more advantageous than the common bars.

Having thus described myinvention, Iclaim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. A horizontal bar for gymnastic apparatus, composed of a square steel core and of a cylindrical shell or covering of moistureabsorbing material, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. A horizontal bar for gymnastic apparatus, consisting of a square steel core and a covering or shell formed of disks of paper or other suitable material, substantially as set forth.

3. In a horizontal bar for gymnastic apparatus, thecombination of a square steel core with a shell or covering formed of disks of suitable material, and with compressing end blocks and fastening devices, substantially as and for the purpose described. In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name, in presence of two witnesses, this 22d day of July, 1881.

WILLIAM HE ESELER.

Witnesses:

PAUL GoEPEL, CARL KA P. 

